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MichaelBlevins.com
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News/Blog
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TheaterScene.net Dance Feature by Blevins - April 30, 2015
CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON IN CONVERSATION WITH RITA MORENO:
A delightful romp through the dancing career of one of Ballet and Broadway’s brightest choreographers.
"On April 27, Symphony Space and Words on Dance presented “Christopher Wheeldon in Conversation with Rita Moreno: From Ballet to Broadway,” a delightful romp through the dancing career of one of Broadway’s brightest choreographers. The lecture was moderated and led by Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy winning actor-singer-dancer Rita Moreno. Moreno’s conversation with Wheeldon was prompted by a series of film clips featuring him as a young dancer as well as brief segments of his past choreographic work with the New York City Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, the Royal Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, the Wheeldon Company, and his most current work in the new Broadway production of An American In Paris where he serves as both director and choreographer. It is the fusion of his classical European ballet training, his love for American music, American dance stars, and American dance that Wheeldon has established himself as a leading force in the world of dance."[Full Article]
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LOUD CHEERS FOR BLEVINS' PRODUCTION OF PETER PAN AT CENTENARY STAGE COMPANY!
"At Centenary Stage Company in Hackettstown, New Jersey, director-choreographer Michael Blevins has directed a grounded (and that’s a compliment) production in which Lea Antolini-Lid plays a most convincing Peter." ~ PETER FILICHIA, National Theater Critic [Full Review]
"This highly entertaining production directed by Michael Blevins. . .Director Blevins has assembled a cast as talented as any we have seen on the Sitnik stage. . . Blevins also excels as the choreographer. Peter Pan features a surprisingly large number of excellent dances with the highlight being Ugg-a-Wugg. . . " ~Rick Busciglio, New Jersey Footlights [Full Review]
"The oohs and ahhs came from the adults as well as the children, . . . Director/choreographer Michael Blevins has pulled out all the stops. . .This is also a show where dance is central, . . . .Blevins has staged some spectacular dance numbers . . . brings the house down in a percussive number called Ugg-a-Wugg. " ~Sheila Abrams, NJ Arts Maven [Full Review]
"I was not disenchanted by the Centenary production, . . . was competent and believable, even from my front row seat. And—sitting in the front row (almost in with the orchestra) did not dispel the illusion of flight. It was magic. . . .So, it is bravo all around!" ~Ruth Grauert, Bearnstow Journal [Full Review]
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RAVE REVIEWS FOR BLEVINS' PRODUCTION OF THE WIZARD OF OZ AT CENTENARY STAGE COMPANY!
"...it’s not hard to detect the thoughtfulness and creativity of Michael Blevins’ direction and choreography." ~ STAR LEDGER, Ronni Reich[Full Review]
"...is beautifully directed and choreographed by... Michael Blevins... a surprisingly faithful recreation of the classic MGM film... has this large cast dancing at almost every turn... a spirited, enthusiastic collection of dance numbers..." ~Rick Busciglio, New Jersey Footlights [Full Review]
"The show is directed and gorgeously choreographed by Michael Blevins... large-scale dance numbers have a slightly psychedelic feeling about them." ~Sheila Abrams, NJ Arts Maven [Full Review]
"Director/Choreographer Michael Blevins... a very daunting task... did a fabulous job of casting and staging it. Some of the more interesting staging elements in this production are done with dance elements. First the tornado... Then later when Glinda sends snow down to counter the sleep effect of the poppies... elements add so much to the show and are well executed and very entertaining... Another fun dance... our heroes encounter the diabolical Jitterbugs sent by the witch... a terrific dancing scene that is perfectly staged and executed as well.. . . .there is so much to love about this particular production of this timeless favorite. Don't miss it because there's really no place like Oz and no better production of it." ~Janine M. Torsiello, Morris Beats [Full Review]
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KANDER & RIMMER JOIN GTT BOARD
Tony-winning composer, John Kander and Pulitzer-Prize finalist, David Rimmer join The Group Theatre Too's Artistic Advisory Board. The board includes such luminaries as Chita Rivera, Nicole Fosse, Theodore Mann and Maurice Hines, to name a few. Visit www.playbill.com for more information [MORE]
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BLEVINS RECEIVES HONORABLE MENTION IN NYMF AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
Michael Blevins, co-creator of the new NYMF musical COUNT TO TEN receives Honorable Mention in 2009 NYMF Awards for Excellence for his Choreography in the new musical that played at Off-Broadway's Theatre at Saint Clements and also received an extended run at the Hudson Guild Theatre. [MORE]
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BLEVINS PERFORMS SELECTIONS FROM BOB FOSSE'S DANCIN' AT CITY CENTER IN CAREER TRANSITION FOR DANCER'S BENEFIT GALA
Michael Blevins joins artists from around the world to celebrate one of America's greatest art forms.
Featuring Tony Award Winner Laura Benanti, Ashley Bouder & Andrew Veyette from New York City Ballet, Emmy Award Winner Valerie Harper, and the Metropolitan Opera's Samuel Ramey.
Plus, special appearances and performances by, and artists from Bob Fosse's Dancin', Bullettrun, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Jacques d'Amboise, "Dancing with the Stars", Decadancetheatre, Electric Boogaloo's Mr. Wiggles, Nicole Fosse, Lombard Twins, Lori Belilove & The Isadora Duncan Dance Company, Kathleen Marshall, John Selya, "So You Think You Can Dance", Sophisticated Ladies -Tribute to Duke Ellington, Jock Soto, "Step UP 3", The Street Beats Group, Tap City Youth Ensemble, and Sonya Tayeh Dance.
[MORE]
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BLEVINS MUSICAL COUNT TO TEN RECEIVES EXTENDED RUN AT HUDSON GUILD THEATRE
he Group Theatre Too's musical Count To Ten, co-authored by Blevins, is an official selection of The 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), received additionl performances at The Hudson Guild Theatre and played to sold-out houses and standing ovations! [MORE]
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COUNT TO TEN OFFICIAL SELECTION OF THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL 2009
The Group Theatre Too's musical Count To Ten, co-authored by Blevins, is an official selection of The 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). The largest annual musical theatre event in America, the NYMF provides an unrivaled showcase for new musicals. To date, festival productions have led to further life on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally (in 38 states) and internationally (in 9 countries) for such shows as Altar Boyz, [title of show], Captain Louie, Next to Normal, Shout! the Mod Musical, and Yank!, among many others. [MORE]
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THE ROUNDABOUT INN PLAYS CENTENARY STAGE
In May 09, Blevins' new full-length play, THE ROUNDABOUT INN opened at the Centenary Stage Company for a limited run and was received well. THE ROUNDABOUT INN, sketches the fable of simple people and their rural imprisonment in south east Pennsylvania. In his youth, Keegan Dodge, gave up dreams of accomplishing big things to help his widowed step-mother, whose ambitions are bound by the four walls of the ROUNDABOUT INN Bed & Breakfast from which they derive a meager life, transfers his hopes and dreams to his younger brother. Benson, the younger brother, is interested in acting and for years has helped his older brother scrimp and save so he might escape the cycle of drudgery that has haunted his brother’s life, and move to New York to pursue a career on the stage. When the time comes for Benson to go, his mother Rita, who knows nothing of the plan or saved money to pay for Benson’s relocation to New York, demands that he stay at the Roundabout Inn and contribute the money to better the family business. After the roundabout way it all comes down, they all return to the place they originally started and have merely veered off their paths for a brief moment.
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BLEVINS INKS PUBLISHING DEAL
This spring Michael Blevins finalized the publishing deal with Heuer Publishing for the publication of "Aftermath", GTT's Social Awareness Respect-Your-Body one-act play penned by Blevins and developed at The Group Theatre Too. Heuer Publishing was established in 1928 and today is one of the oldest publishing houses serving the educational and community theatre markets. Heuer was a pioneer in commissioning and publishing unique works from a broad range of playwrights, which were entertaining and yet thought provoking, family appropriate and yet edgy, and which provided a standardized formula for technical production with flexibility for Directors desiring a greater challenge. "Aftermath" sheds light on the lives of 7 young people as they face daily choices about substance abuse, promiscuity, diet, other social issues and the inevitable consequences of the choices they make. Knowledge is power - arm you students with the power of positive choices. "Aftermath" shows young people the awesome power in every choice they make.
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BLEVINS MAKES MISS EVERS BOYS DANCE
The Red Fern Theatre Company presented David Feldshuh's Miss Evers' Boys March 19 - April 5, 2009 at the Shell Theater in the Times Square Arts Building. The Red Fern's third show of the 2008-2009 "Season of Secrets" was directed by Artistic Director Melanie Moyer Williams and choreographed by Michael Blevins. [MORE]
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KELLY & THE INTERNET GOBLINS IN PRINT
Blevins is the author of several one-act plays to be performed by children, most notably Kelly The Internet Goblins published by PLAYS, The Drama Magazine for Young People; Suite Heart and Club Drama, which will be included in a soon-to-be published book for young actors entitled Garage Plays. To read the Kelly & The Internet Goblins script click here.
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BLEVINS REVISITS THE SOUTHERN STAGE WITH ROSES
Blevins returns to his old-stompling grounds in East Tennessee, to appear as 'John Cleary' in Frank D. Gilroy's, 1965 Pulitzer Prize winning play The Subject Was Roses. Regional actress Lisa Dockery Love and New York actor and GTT member, Ryan Gregorio appeared in the production wtih Mr. Blevins.
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